Book

Malekula: a vanishing people in the New Hebrides

George Routledge and Sons, Ltd.London • Published In 1934 • Pages:

By: Deacon, Bernard, Wedgwood, Camilla H. (Camilla Hildegarde).

Abstract
This monograph is a comprehensive survey of traditional Malekulan ethnography, based on Deacon's own field observations during the period of 1925-1927, and the memories of his native informants dealing with earlier historical periods. Copious notes were taken by the author during the years of his field work, but unfortunately he died of blackwater fever in 1927 before they could be organized into a form suitable for publication. After his death this task was left to Miss Camilla H. Wedgewood who edited the notes and put them into the final form of the publication presented here (with many editorial notes scattered throughout the text). Although Deacon's work centered primarily on the southwestern region of Malekula, he does present much comparative information on other regions of the island as well (northwestern, eastern, northern, central, etc.). Much of the document deals with the age grade rituals of the NIMANGKI and NALAWAN societies, but there is also abundant information on geography, kinship, marriage, the economic life, warfare, birth and initiation, the gongs (which are involved in many aspects of Malekulan life), death practices, totemism, and magic. Three appendices provide data on the prehistoric pottery used extensively in rituals, native texts of myths, and a glossary of native terms.
Subjects
Reviews and critiques
Domesticated animals
Body alterations
Age stratification
Sodalities
Regulation of marriage
Kinship terminology
Kin relationships
Avuncular and nepotic relatives
Clans
Mythology
Eschatology
Spirits and gods
Sacred objects and places
Magic
Organized ceremonial
Puberty and initiation
Interlinear translations
culture
Malekula
HRAF PubDate
2002
Region
Oceania
Sub Region
Melanesia
Document Type
Book
Evaluation
Creator Type
Ethnologist
Document Rating
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
John Beierle ; 2000
Field Date
1925-1927
Coverage Date
late eighteenth century - mid 1920s
Coverage Place
Island of Malekula, Vanuatu
Notes
by A. Bernard Deacon ; edited by Camilla H. Wedgwood. With a pref. by A. C. Haddon.
'Native texts: stories and myths recorded in the dialects of Malekula, and translated wholly or in part by A. B. Deacon': p. 715-736
Includes bibliographical references (p. 757-760) and index
LCSH
Malekula (Vanuatu)